Session 16: Working Together

Beautiful orange sunset over a deep blue ocean. — Tapestry is Sunsetting

The UUA is no longer updating Tapestry of Faith programs.

Part of Moral Tales, Grades 2-3

In This Section

Workiing Together Introduction
From Moral Tales

Drops that gather one by one finally form a sea. — Persian proverb This session emphasizes the idea of strengthening community and working cooperatively with other people. While Unitarian Universalists value individual action, we also know that together we are stronger than the sum of our…
Session-at-a-Glance
From Moral Tales

Activity Minutes Welcoming and Entering 0 Opening 2 Activity 1: Gems of Goodness 10 Activity 2: Story Basket and Centering 3 Activity 3: Story — A Bundle of Sticks 10 Activity 4: What Would UU Do? 15 Activity 5: Making a Bundle Together 15 Activity 6: Clean up 2 Faith in Action 15 Closing 3…
Spiritual Preparation
From Moral Tales

Take a few moments to sit quietly with this story, picturing it as it unfolds in your imagination. Perhaps it reminds you of your own family dynamics and the benefits and challenges of working together and relying on others. Here are some memory prompts to think about or talk about to connect you…
Welcoming and Entering
From Moral Tales

Materials for Activity Mosaic gemstones, at least three per participant A colorful cloth A small notebook, approximately two by three inches, and a marker for each child who is new to the Gems of Goodness project Optional: Stick-on gems or other stickers for children who are new to the Gems of…
Opening
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 2 minutes Materials for Activity Chalice candle or LED/battery-operated candle Lighter and extinguisher, if needed Newsprint, markers, and tape Preparation for Activity Decide whether you will use the provided opening words, an adaptation of Reading 418 in Singing the Living…
Activity 1: Gems Of Goodness
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity Clear glass jar or vase Small notebooks, approximately 2”x 3”, for any newcomers Markers and stick-on gems or other stickers for children who are new to the Gems of Goodness project Copies of the Session 2, Leader Resource 2, Gems of Goodness Letter…
Activity 2: Story Basket And Centering
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 5 minutes Materials for Activity A large basket Craft sticks A large rubber band Copy of the story, “The Bundle of Sticks” A chime, a rain stick, or another calming sound instrument Optional: Box or small table and a cloth cover Optional: A globe or a world map Preparation for…
Activity 3: Story - The Bundle Of Sticks
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity A copy of the story,”The Bundle of Sticks” A chime, a rain stick, or another calming sound instrument Craft sticks and large rubber band Optional: Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Read the story a few times. Get ready to use the…
Activity 4: What Would Uu Do?
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Moral Compass poster A bold marker, or a piece of card stock and tape or a stapler Newsprint, markers and tape Preparation for Activity Consider incorporating role-playing into the second dilemma presented in this activity….
Activity 5: Making A Bundle Together
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity Color markers Craft sticks, enough for each child’s bundle of craft sticks to include one for each child in the group Optional: Extra sticks for children to do this activity with their families at home Rubber bands Preparation for Activity Obtain…
Activity 6: Clean-up
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 2 minutes Materials for Activity Plastic tubs or baskets to store markers, pens, stickers and other art materials. Waste basket lined with a bag. Bag(s) for recycling paper products and/or empty plastic containers….
Session 16: Working Together - Closing
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 3 minutes Materials for Activity Moral Compass poster A bold marker, or a piece of card stock and tape or a stapler Newsprint, markers, and tape Optional: One copy of Singing the Journey, supplement to the Unitarian Universalist hymnbook Singing the Living Tradition Optional: Music…
Leader Reflection and Planning
From Moral Tales

Take a few minutes to evaluate the session with your co-leader immediately afterward, while it is fresh. If this is the final session, you may wish to write some suggestions to future leaders of Moral Tales and/or leaders who will work next with this group of children. Make note of any particular…
Faith In Action: Long-term - Parrots For Pennies
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 15 minutes Materials for Activity List of ideas for generating pennies, created in previous session Large clear plastic jar for fundraising and/or money collection tin for bake sale Small change for bake sale Optional: Small clear plastic jars for each child Optional: Poster board …
Alternate Activity 1: Candles Of Joys And Sorrows
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Large container, such as ceramic or metal bowl Play sand (can be found at local hardware store) or unscented cat litter Large number of candles Basket for candles Matches or lighter Preparation for Activity Fill your container with the play sand or…
Alternate Activity 2: What Would Uu Do? Moral Compass Game
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 30 minutes Materials for Activity Moral Compass poster Newsprint, markers and tape Several copies of Leader Resource 2, What Would UU Do? Dilemma Slips, and scissors Sound maker Preparation for Activity If you are leading Moral Tales on your own, invite your director of religious…
Alternate Activity 3: Take-home Mini-compasses
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity Copies of handout, Take-Home Mini-Compass for all participants (three-page story) A sample, finished compass Brass fasteners for all participants, scissors (including left-handed scissors), tape or glue, and markers, pencils or pens Optional:…
Alternate Activity 4: Gems Of Goodness Party
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 20 minutes Materials for Activity A special snack and drink Paper plates, paper cups and plastic utensils as needed Gems of Goodness jar Bowl of extra gems of goodness, several for each child Sound instrument Optional: Moral Compass poster Preparation for Activity Set out all of th…
Alternate Activity 5: Cooperative Hula Hoop Game
From Moral Tales

Activity time: 10 minutes Materials for Activity One large hula hoop Optional: A second large hula hoop Sound instrument Preparation for Activity Move to an open area or clear the chairs and tables to make space for everyone to stand in a wide circle. Description of Activity The goal of this…
Taking It Home: Working Together
From Moral Tales

Drops that gather one by one finally form a sea. — Persian proverb IN TODAY’S SESSION… We focused on the theme of cooperation. The children acted out an Aesop’s fable about an old woman who taught her children that they would be stronger in life if they worked together and appreciated one…
Story 1: The Bundle of Sticks
From Moral Tales

Adapted from an Aesop’s fable. Once upon a time, an old woman lived on a beautiful farm in the country. From her window, she could see pasture land, fields of grain, barns filled with animals, orchards and forests beyond. The farm was special to the old woman because it had been in her family for…
Leader Resource 1: Parrots for Pennies Letter to Parents
From Moral Tales

Dear Parents, As part of our session on Perseverance, the children started a new Faith in Action project today. Faith in Action projects help us to practice the skills and virtues we are learning about. The children heard a story about a small parrot that kept flying back and forth to a river and…
Leader Resource 2: What Would UU Do Dilemma Slips
From Moral Tales

There are 15 dilemmas suggested to use for the activity. All of the session concepts (Moral Compass directions) taught in the Moral Tales program can be used to resolve at least one dilemma. Download this Leader Resource into a word processing document on your computer. Use your word processing…
Leader Resource 3: List Of Moral Tales Session Concepts
From Moral Tales

Session Title Concept as Noted on Moral Compass Poster 1 We Are All One Interdependence 2 Conscience: Hearing the Inner Voice Inner voice 3 Faith, Hope and Prayer Faith 4 In Another’s Shoes Empathy 5 Forgiveness Forgiveness 6 Welcome One and All Welcoming 7 Seeing Others with Awe Respect 8 Do Unt…
Leader Resource 4: Take-Home Moral Compass Template
From Moral Tales

Printing This Handout Download a high-resolution copy of this Handout (PDF) for printing.
Find Out More
From Moral Tales

Discovery Time for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution by Sarah Pirtle (Nyack, NY: The Children’s Creative Response to Conflict Program, 1998). This is a wonderful resource for any teacher who wishes to promote a sense of community, cooperation and conflict resolution in the classroom. There are…